Downton Abbey: 8 Violet Crawley Quotes So Sharp They Will Cut You, Ranked
Maggie Smith’s Violet Crawley is the most savage character on Downton Abbey, and her lines are the funniest in the entire show.
Here are the top eight Violet Crawley quotes that can easily obliterate you if you stand too close.
8. “I know several couples who are perfectly happy – haven’t spoken in years.”
At one point, Robert shares with Violet that he had been speaking with Cora, to which Violet replies that he shouldn’t have. Robert exclaims that Violet can’t expect him to ignore his own wife, prompting Violet to respond with this witty statement. While it is hilarious, we probably won’t be taking marriage advice from the Dowager Countess at this time…
7. “Do you promise?”
In season 2, Richard and Matthew have a fight, resulting in Richard’s early departure that he announces to Violet. In her most iconic manner, she satisfyingly responds with this rhetorical question. This scene just lives on our heads rent-free.
6. “Well, no, you can’t be as desperate as that.”
After Edith is left at the altar, she turns for advice to her loving grandma and asks if she should take up gardening as a way to spend her days. Judging by her response, the Dowager Countess is clearly not fond of this hobby.
5. “I am not a romantic. But even I will concede that the heart does not exist solely for the purpose of pumping blood.”
Violet is definitely far from being a romance-driven woman, and yet her opinions on love alone make Downton Abbey worth watching. This gem of a quote is strikingly to the point and yet full of irony that Violet is famous for.
4. “Is this an instrument of communication or torture?”
Honestly, Violet’s reaction to the new telephone is so relatable. That’s basically us whenever a new version of an app is released. Violet is as on-point as ever with her takes on the modern world.
3. “He’s a man. Men don’t have rights.”
Violet was a feminist before it became mainstream. For context, she says this in the conversation discussing the father’s rights to the baby he’s left, so basically, that quip is spot-on.
2. “There’s nothing simpler than avoiding people you don’t like. Avoiding one’s friends, that’s the real test.”
In season 5, Violet utters this piece of her wisdom, and isn’t that exactly like it is in real life? This line is full of sarcasm and rings true – it’s possible not to come anywhere near those you have no desire of seeing, but it’s way harder to do the same thing to your friends.
1. “I wouldn’t know, I’m not familiar with the sensation.”
Lady Grantham is never wrong, so when she hears Isobel insinuating that she is in that case and that she hates being wrong, she has no other option but to completely destroy her. That’s also a killer quote for the yearbook.
Isn’t Violet just the best? We’d watch a spinoff show where it’s just her having tea with people and dropping her witty wisdom on them all day long.